Coral’s 10 greatest goalkeeper double acts at one club

It seems that Jose Mourinho still hasn’t decided upon who his number one goalkeeper for this season is, as he has rotated elder statesman and club legend Petr Cech in recent games with rising star Thibaut Courtois.

That got Coral writers thinking, so we have thought of 10 other instances when one club has had two stars stoppers in their ranks, and how they dealt with pleasing both of them.

Dida and Christian Abbiati (AC Milan)Brazil’s third-highest capped keeper Dida (with 91) enjoyed a mixed decade with former Italian giants, especially at first as he was immediately loaned back to his former club Corinthians, before making a comical error against Leeds United in the Champions League. Italy international Abbiati pounced on his chance when Dida left, and became the Rossoneri’s first choice stopper for the following four seasons.

Manuel Neuer and Pepe Reina (Bayern Munich)This duo are the only pair of World Cup winners from this list, and are now plying their trade for Champions League favourites Bayern (11/4). Germany’s Neuer and Spaniard Reina have both won multiple trophies at club level too, the latter mostly with Liverpool.

Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea)Cech is on this list again and, ever since ousting Chelsea’s 2002 Player of the Season, he remained in net the following 10 years. Cudicini was happy to stay as the Czech’s deputy until 2009, though.

Paul Robinson and Nigel Martyn (Leeds United)Former England internationals Robinson and Leeds legend Martyn spent a total of five seasons together at Elland Road, but the former finally ousted the latter from the between the sticks in 2003/04.

Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton (Leicester City)These are two of England’s best ever keepers, with Banks winning the World Cup and Shilton claiming the highest ever Three Lions caps. It may be surprising to hear that they were once at the same club, as a 16-year-old Shilton impressed so much that Leicester decided to sell their former hero in 1967 at the age of just 30.

Joe Hart and Shay Given (Manchester City)Hart had impressed City as a youngster, playing a total of 49 Premier League games in his first two full seasons for them, but the signing of Given in 2009 threatened his development. Thankfully for Hart, he took back his place after an impressive loan spell with Birmingham City and has been the 7/1 title second-favourites’ number one keeper ever since, more or less.

David de Gea and Victor Valdes (Manchester United)Despite former Barcelona hero Valdes having yet to play a game for his new side, he still counts as a star stopper due the incredible amount of top honours he won for club and country. De Gea, though, is very much the future of the sport, hopefully with the Premier League with the Red Devils, 11/4 FA Cup chances.

Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez (Real Madrid)Any player to keep out Spain and Real Madrid legend Casillas from the team must be good, and sole La Roja cap Lopez did just that for a season-and-a-half. The latter was sold to AC Milan, though, this season, whereas Casillas is now battling it out with Keylor Navas now.

Asmir Begovic and Jack Butland (Stoke City)While stoke may not be the most fashionable team on this list, they do have some very talented keepers in Begovic and young Englishman Butland. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has somewhat halted the rising star’s progress, though.

Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm (Tottenham)Another current Premier League double act, France captain Lloris is very much the number one at Spurs, but has able backup in Netherlands international and former Swansea City star Vorm.

It is also worth mentioning that while Spain legend Santiago Canizares spent time at the Bernebeu, a young Casillas was making his way through the academy at the club. Also, iconic duo Edwin van der Saar and Gianluigi Buffon spent a matter of weeks together on the same books at Juventus, with the former leaving for Fulham on July 31st, 2001, just after the latter’s big-money arrival from Parma on July 4th.